Snap ring forming machine



April 17, 1956 Filed Dec. 5, 1951 Iil Hill.-

M. L. ANDERSON ETAL SNAP RING FORMING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Shet 1 Hill 'lE L' INVENTORS MORRIS L. AuoERsoM ALBERT E.HENDRIC.K$

ATTORNEYS April 17, 1956 M. L. ANDERSON ET AL 2,742,061

' Y SNAP RING FORMING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Moams L ANDERSON ALBERT E. HENDRRKS ATTORNEY'S April 17, 1956 M. L. ANDERSON ETAL 2,742,061

SNAP RING FORMING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Moams L. ANDERSON ALBERT E. HENDRICKS Mpg ATTORNEYS April 1956 M. ANDERSON ETAL 2,742,061

SNAP RING FORMING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5. 1951 9 Sheets-SheetA '2 7 o s N \\l I IN V EN TOR$ Monms L. ANDERSON ALBERT E. HEMDmcKs zwm /gw ATTORNEYS April 17, 1956 M. L. ANDERSON ETAL 2,742,061

SNAP RING FORMING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1951 e Sheets-Sheet 5 X I //V/// A W LIE-i \\\\Q INVENTORS Monms L. ANDERSON BY ALBERT E. HENDRICKS ATTORNEYS April 17, 1956 NTORS NDEIZSON ALBERT E Heuumcxs BY Ma W4 ATTORNEYS April 17, 1956 Filed Dec. 5, 1951 M. L. ANDERSON ETAL 2,742,061

SNAP RING FORMING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 LEI-LEI a I Q U1 m I l L] I I H -1 I INVENTORS MORRIS L. ANDERSON ALBERT E. HENDRKZKS By M MW/ W ATTORNEY$ p 1956 M. L. ANDERSON ETAL 2,742,061

SNAP RING FORMING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 5, 1951 INVENTORS l I: a MORRIS L. Auoelzsou Ataem- E. Heuomcxs 7zMM 9? ATTORNEYS April'17, 1956 M. L. ANDERSON ETAL 2,742,061

SNAP RING FORMING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR. MoRms L. ANDERSON B ALBERT E. HENDRKLKS ATTORNEYS 2,742,061 SNAP RING FORMING MACHINE Morris L. Anderson and Albert E. Hendricks, Massillon, Oh o, asslgnors to Eaton .Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of-hio This inventionrelates to snap 'rings and the like and nore particularly to machinery for the manufacture there- 0 Broadly the invention comprehends the provision of a machine-for forming snap rings and the like from preformed wire whereinthe ,wire is first cut to predetermined length and then' bent to. circular form by cooperative forming bar and die members.

Although snap rings and the like have been manufactured for a great number of years by several different methods and machines, none have been able to achieve the results of the presently devised machine.

Among the principal objects of the invention are the provision of a snap ring forming machine, that:

- 1. Is simple of construction and effective in operation; 2." Can produce snap rings and the like at a much greater speed than previously devised machines;

3. Can produce snap rings and the like which do not require a subsequent flattening operation;

4. Can produce snap rings and the like with accurate circularity;

5. Can be easily and readily adjusted and serviced;

6. Can be readily modified to accommodate various sized and shaped snap rings and the like; and i 7. Embodies solelyonef major movable member, that is a forming bar which cooperates with a stationary die to transform the wire from straight to circular formin one simple operation. I i 1 Other objects and advantages' of the'invention will appear from the'following description taken in connection with the drawings forminga part-of the specification, and in which: Y i Fig. 1 is .a frontelevation chine. j r v Fig. 2 is a top elevation view of the machine of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of the machineof Fig. 1 looking in the direction of arrows 3-3;

. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 4-4 of Fig. 2;

view of a ring forming ma- Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along 2 lines 5-5 of Fig. 2; a r

Fig. 6 is an end elevation view taken substantially along lines 66 of Fig. 2; r i

Fig. 7 is a side .elevation partly cross-sectionalized and partly broken away view of a modified form of snap ring forming machine; i a

Fig. 8 is an end elevation partly cross-sectionalized and partly broken away viewtakensubstantially along lines 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation view taken substantially along lines 9-9 of Fig. 7; v p c Fig. 10 discloses a snap ring of the form made by the machine shown by Figs. 7 and 8; and

Figs. 11 through 13 disclose the progressive formation of a snap ring wherein the forming tool is cooperatively engageable with the die. Y p,

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

2,742,061 Patented Apr. 17, 1956 This snap ring forming machine was devised primarily for the purpose of producing snap rings and the like having extremely accurate flatness and circularity thereby eliminating the necessity of any additional operations to bring the rings up to an acceptable standard. In addition to accomplishing a high degree of accuracy the machine is capable of producing rings, due to its simplicity of construction and operation, at a rate far in excess of previously devised and used methods and machines. The machine consists basically of means for cutting off wire, of predetermined shape, to desired length as the wire is lineally fed from a reel in a controlled manner, a reciprocating forming bar, and a forming die having a circular bore and a tapered face such that the bar operates to engage the cut off wire and move it into the bore in the die at the tapered face end of the die.

it is desired to vary the shape of the ends of the snap ring being formed, an aperture is provided onthe upperside of the die having connection with the bore therein and adapted to permit of the movement of a forming tool therethrough engageable with the ring ends to bend them to predetermined shape desired.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 6 of the drawings for more specific details of the invention 10 represents generally a machine for forming snap rings and'the like comprising basically wire feed rollers 12, wire cut oil mechanism 14, a forming bar 16 and a forming die 18.

Forming bar 16 is supported for horizontal reciprocable movement on a ram 20 and includes an axial extension 22 terminating at its free end 24 in a predetermined form to which the internal circumference of the snap ring to be formed will conform. As shown by Fig. 4, end 24 includes a short axially extended and reduced cylindrical section 26, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

Die 18 is adapted to be securely mounted upon a stationary part of machine 10 and provides a horizontally arranged circular bore 28 extending throughout the die with one end of the bore terminating adjacent a tapered face portion 30 of thedie, with the tapered face portion 30 facing the end 24 of the forming bar 16.

The cut off mechanism 14 includes a reciprocable cutter bar 32 adapted to cooperate with a stationary cutter block 34.

Forming bar 16, cutter bar 32 and rollers 12 are actuated in predetermined timed relation to one another from a single motive means, such as an electrical motor, not shown, arranged in motor housing 36, said motor having appropriate driving connection with a crankshaft 38 by way of a pulley, not shown, housed in pulley housing 40. Crankshaft 38 is appropriately connected to ram 20 and holder 42 for cutter bar 32 to provide for the desired reciprocal movement of the ram 20 and holder 42.

A crank arm linkage 44 driven by way of the crankshaft 38 is operable to actuate a ratchet mechanism 46 for the purpose of effecting a desired intermittent braking operation of the driven roller 12 during a portion of the time that the snap ring forming operation is in progress.

Wire from which the snap rings are to be formed in the utilization of machine Ill) is preferably made of a predetermined keystone section such that in the forming thereof to a circular shape a substantially uniform crosssection is achieved. The wire in its course of travel through machine 10 is progressively fed by rollers 12 each bearing upon the wire at their common point of tangency effective to move the wire lineally toward cutter mechanism 14. The Wire is guided in its linear path between the end of cutter bar 32 and cutter block 34 and in a groove 48 provided in a guide member 50 mounted in stationary relation on the supporting table part of the machine 19 intermediate the die 18 and cutter block 34. After its passage through guide 50 the wire passes over a spring pressed plate 52 mounted adjacent die member 18 at the entrance to bore 28.

One of the rollers 12 is adjustably shiftable relative to the other roller 12, so as to accommodate various size wire to be formed, by way of its being mounted upon a slide bearing for movement therein through the actuation of manual screw adjustment means 54.

In a normal operation of the machine 1% with the motor driving crankshaft 38 and roller 12, wire is fed by the action of rollers between cutter bar 32 and cutter block 34 and into groove 48 in guide 543 and across plate 52 such that with an established relationship of operation of the forming bar 16, cutter bar 32 and rollers 12, end 22 of the forming bar engages the Wire held in guide 58 upon plate 52 while simultaneously therewith the cutter bar 32 in cooperation with cutter block 34 severs a predetermined length of wire from the wire being fed by the rollers. Precisely at the same time that the wire is being severed to length the timed braking of the rollers is had so as to momentarily interrupt the feed of the Wire.

The forming bar engages the length of cut wire substantially intermediate its length with the wire nestled on the underside of the extension 26 whereby as the forming bar is further advanced toward the bore 28 in the forming die the wire is gradually bent upward on its opposite ends through the engagement of the wire on the tapered face 30 of the die. The ends of the wire are progressively bent toward one another as the forming bar advances into the bore in the die through the action of the juncture of tapered surface 30 and the bore 28 serving to shape the wire to circular form. At the same time that the wire on its external diameter is formed circularly the circumference of cylindrical section 26 maintains the inner diameter circular and thus assumes a circular ring after its complete passage through the bore 28 of the forming die. It is to be understoodthat the diameter of cylindrical section 26 and bore 28 are accurately predetermined in connection with the size of the wire employed so that a true circular and properly sized form will continually result.

At the time that the forming bar is in the course of completing a forming operation the rollers are once again set into motion, controlled as by the sequence of operation established for the component operating parts of the machine, and operate to feed wire between cutter bar 32 and cutter block 34- and into groove 48. The wire is permitted to pass through groove 43 even though the forming bar is advanced axially thereacross by reason of a relief 56 provided in the underside of extension 22 of the forming bar 16. After the completion of a snap ring forming operation wherein the completed ring is projected by the forming bar out of the forming die by way of the end or here 28 opposite the tapered face end of the die, the forming bar is retracted from the forming die. As the forming bar 16 returns to its normal starting point the underside of the extension 22 merging into relief 56 engages the Wire and moves it vertically downward into groove 58 which is normally occupied by plate 52. The Wire is free to move vertically downward in groove i8 since spring pressed plate 52 normally holds the wire at a fixed vertical position relative to the forming bar and forming die axially intermediate the bar and die. With the wire moved vertically downward the forming bar completes its retraction stroke without obstruction and once it reaches a position past the wire, plate 52 once again moves the wire to a position intermediate the plate and underside of section 22 of the bar 16 ready for a subsequent forming operation.

Figs. 7 through 9 illustrate a modification of the ring forming machine shown by Figs. 1 through 6 wherein a ring end forming mechanism 66 is provided. The mechanism 66 is supported upon a stationary frame 68 and includes a member 70, mounted for axial slidable movement upon a pair of horizontally arranged bars '72, secured to frame 68. The member 70 is biased in one direction on the bars 72 and is limited to movement in its biased direction by an adjustment screw 74 mounted on frame 68, and supports resiliently therein an end forming tool member 76 having a tool part 78 adapted to pass through an opening 80 arranged in the topside of a forming die 82 of like design to die 18 of Fig. 2 with the exception of the opening 80. 7

End forming tool member. 76 is slidably mounted in member 70 and is biased vertically upward by springs 84 interposed between member 70 and the tool member 76. Tool member 76 .in addition to part 78 has a roller 85 mounted on its opposite end adapted to be engaged by a one way acting earn member 86, said cam member being effective to cause a vertical downmard movement of forming tool member 76 against the resistance of springs 84 when the member' 'Ttl' and tool member 76 supported therein are moved horizontally on bars 72 and the roller engages. the ramp of cam member 86.

Cam member 86 is pivot-ally mounted upon a crosshead 38 of frame 68 and is biased to fixed position in one rotary direction against a portion of crosshead 88 by torsion spring 90 such that the canrmember 86 can be moved out of operative position when'the member 70 and tool member 76 are retracted.

A forming'bar 92, of similar embodiment as bar 16 butdiffering therefrom in that its free end 74 has a portion 96 of its cylindrical section 98 removed, is adapted to cooperate with forming die- 82 to make a circular snap ring from straight stock and with a portion 160 of tool part 78 of tool member "76 for the forming of turned in ears on the circular snap ring formed by bar 92 and die 82. It is to be noted that portion of the tool part 78 has a shape complement of the cutout portion 96 of section 98 whereby when the formed circular ring is advanced to a position under the tool member 76 the portion 100 of tool part 78 is moved to engage the ends of the ring and then as the tool member 76 is further moved progressively vertically downward the ends of the snap ring are embraced between the portion 189 of tool part 92 and section'98 of the bar 92 so as to produce a snap ring 102 as shown by-Fig. 10.

As a means of insuring a related movement of tool member 76 to bar 92 an actuating rod 104 is secured to the ram for operating bar 92 such that as the bar 92 is advanced to engage die 82 the rod 104 is simultaneously moved therewith and upon a predetermined movement of bar 92 the end of rod 104 engages the end of an adjustable screw 106 projecting from the member 70 through an opening 108 in frame 68 to move member 70 and roller 85 into engagement with the ramp surface of cam member 86. A continued axial movement of bar 92 and rod 194 results in the tool part 78 of tool member 76 being projected downwardly to engage the ends of the snap ring for the cooperative bending thereof with section 98 of bar 92.

While this invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, the principle involved is susceptible of numerous other applications that will readily occur to persons skilled in the art. The invention, therefore, is limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A ring forming machine comprising a stationary die having a bore therein, a groove perpendicular to the bore and in communication therewith and a surface adjacent to and in surrounding relation to one end of the here which is oifset to a plane lying perpendicular to the axis of the bore, a reciprocable forming tool being complementary in cross'sectional size and shape to the bore along its length receivable in the bore, said tool being movable along the axis of the bore and having a part thereof receivable in the end of the'bore adjacent the offset surface of the die and being movable into the bore, a resiliently loaded member arranged in the groove adjacent one edge of the offset surface of the die in merging relation thereto operative to be moved vertically downward relative thereto, said forming tool being undercut over a portion of its external surface adjacent the resiliently loaded member when the tool is received in the bore, means for feeding wire in a straight path perpendicular to the axis of the bore and tool into engagement with said loaded member and into the undercut portion of said forming tool whereby upon retraction of said tool from the bore a portion of said tool adjacent the undercut acts to move the wire into the groove against the resistance of the loaded member to so permit full retraction of said tool therebeyond and means for cutting off a predetermined length of wire as fed into engagement with said loaded member.

2. A ring forming machine comprising a stationary die having a bore therein and a surface adjacent to and in surrounding relation to one end of the bore which is offset to a plane lying perpendicular to the axis of the bore, a reciprocable forming tool being complementary in cross-sectional size and shape to the bore along its length receivable in said bore adjacent said surface and reciprocable along the axis of the bore and having a predetermined formed reduced section on the free end thereof, said bore being open at both ends, said die having an aperture therein intermediate the ends of the bore connected with the bore, a second reciprocable forming tool, reciprocable perpendicular to the reciprocation path of the first mentioned tool, having a part receivable in the bore movable through the aperture in the die and cooperating with the reduced section of said first mentioned tool, and means for reciprocating both of the forming tools.

3. A machine according to claim 2 wherein one end of the part of said second reciprocable forming tool is complementary in shape to a part of the reduced section of the first forming tool, and the forming tools are cooperatively engageable in the bore.

4. A machine according to claim 3 wherein the portion of the offset surface, furthest from the first forming tool'whcn said first forming tool is retracted from the bore, is closest to the aperture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 164,245 Yerington June 8, 1875 310,577 Gilmore Ian. 13, 1885 812,779 Ackley Feb. 13, 1906 1,151,411 Shelton Aug. 24, 1915 1,526,716 Neunherz Feb. 17, 1925 2,048,459 Moffett July 21, 1936 2,578,216 Young Dec. 11, 1951 

